Royal Armouries | National museums of arms and armour
Source: http://royalarmouries.org
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:44
Royal Armouries | National museums of arms and armour
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Genghis Khan: How the Mongols Changed the World
Find Out More About the Genghis Khan Exhibition
Visit Us
Visit Leeds
Royal Armouries Museum
Free
Visit Portsmouth
Fort Nelson
Free
Fascinating Stories
All Stories
8
minute read
Tower of London
Torture and punishment
Life and Death of Fernando Buschmann
4
minute read
Tower of London
Torture and punishment
Identifying an Executioner’s Axe
16
minute read
World War II
The Battles of Imphal and Kohima, 1944
21
minute read
Rome
The World of the Gladiators
5
minute read
Cold War
Firearms
Guarding the Berlin Wall
6
minute read
Rome
Hidden stories
The Gladiatrix
7
minute read
Tudors
Women
Two Queens at the Field of Cloth of Gold
17
minute read
Rome
Spartacus: The Gladiator who Defied an Empire
4
minute read
Popular culture
Firearms
Four Iconic Movie Prop Guns
5
minute read
Hidden stories
Warrior Women
5
minute read
Cold War
Armour
Armour for Astronauts
4
minute read
Popular culture
Firearms
James Bond's Guns
10
minute read
Tower of London
The Man Who Captured the Tower
All Stories
Tower of
London
Explore our history as one of the world’s oldest museums and our links to the Tower of London
Discover your culture and our history
The Collection
Explore the collection
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Japanese armour of King James VI and I
Japanese armour or domaru, Nambu, Japan, 16th century
The armour was presented to King James VI and I in 1613 as a gift from the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, by Captain Saris of the East India Company.
Collection online
Expand image
Mughal era elephant armour
Elephant armour or bargustavan-i-pil, South Asia 17th to 18th century
This armour was probably made around the 17th century, but it is difficult to say exactly where or for whom. The plate and mail structure was most widely used in northern and central India, particularly in Muslim states. However, the peacock, lotus bloom and fish motifs embossed on the larger panels may indicate it was made or used in an area which maintained at least some frameworks of Hindu belief and reference.
Collection online
Expand image
Armour for a boy
Armour for a boy, probably Henry Prince of Wales, Netherlands, about 1607
The armour is decorated with the story of the campaigns of Alexander the Great, and was presented as a gift in 1608 to the eldest son of James I, Prince Henry, who died in 1612 at the age of 18.
Collection online
Expand image
Harquebusier armour by Richard Holden
Armour of King James II by Richard Holden, London, England 1686
This harquebusier armour by the London armourer Richard Holden was made for King James II of England and VII of Scotland in 1686 following the 'Monmouth Rebellion'.
Collection online
Expand image
Emperor Charles V by Peter Paul Rubens
Portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V by Peter Paul Rubens, Belgium 1603-5
The portrait was probably painted in about 1603-5 during Rubens's first visit to the Spanish Court of King Phillip II, son of Charles and his successor to the Spanish throne.
Collection online
Expand image
Textile helmet and armour
Helmet and Cuirass (Peti)
Body armour (peti) comprising a helmet and cuirass, associated with the royal arsenal of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam. South Asia (Mysore), late 18th century.
Collection Online
Expand image
Decorated burgonet helmet for parade
Burgonet, Augsburg, Germany, about 1600
The helmet's delicate decoration of embossed designs featuring bunches of fruit and flowers, interspersed with birds and insects and fire-gilded copper panels in the form of a variety of Classical figures and trophies of arms, made it unsuitable to be worn on the battlefield. Instead it was designed for parades and other ceremonial occasions where its beauty proclaimed the power, wealth and culture of the wearer.
Collection online
Expand image
Helmet for a medieval knight
The "Lyle" bascinet
Late 14th century bascinet with 'houndskull' visor and aventail. The helmet comes from the armoury of Churburg at Schluderns in the Italian Tirol (called Castel Coira in Italian), which contains the most important medieval armoury still in private hands, and is rich in examples of early plate armour.
Collection online
Expand image
Golden winged lion
Winged gilded lion of St Mark
Set in traditional pose with right paw resting on an open book of the Gospel, pages inscribed 'PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEVS' ('Peace be with thee O Mark my evangelist') Its eyes are raised heavenwards, and its head is surrounded by an iron halo.
Collection online
Expand image
M-41A pulse rifle
"Aliens" movie prop
M-41A Pulse Rifle made for the film 'Aliens' (1986) and refurbished for the sequel 'Alien 3' (1992), Britain, 1986.
Collection online
Expand image
Colt Navy Model 1861
Presentation pair
A presentation pair of Colt model 1861 Navy revolvers in a fitted brass bound mahogany case lined with red velvet. The back strap bears the inscription: "To Mark Firth Esq. from President Colt's PFM Co".
Collection online
Expand image
Sporting gun
Flintlock Muzzle-Loading Sporting Gun by James Low About 1620
Probably made for Charles I, as Prince of Wales.
Collection online
Expand image
Axe head
Axe Head (Tabar) dated 1650 with chiselled inscription
On either side of the blade is a chiselled cratouche containing and inscription in Arabic.
Collection online
Expand image
Dagger axe
Dagger Axe (GE) and Scabbard
An axe head of bronze with a lacquered wooden scabbard painted with swirling, smoke-like depictions of running animals, birds, and men armed with spears. From the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC).
Collection online
Explore the collection
Meet the Gladiators
In 2004, one of the largest and best preserved Roman gladiator cemeteries was discovered in the city of York — the final resting place of over 80 skeletons of mostly young men who had lived hard and violent lives. Two decades later, the Royal Armouries asks York Archaeological Trust to reveal the mystery of who they were.
Watch video
Shopping
Shop now
Royal Armouries Museum Souvenir Guide – Leeds
Royal Armouries Armoured Elephant Stuffed Toy
Fort Nelson Guidebook
Islamic Arms and Armour
Gimli’s axe replica - official Lord of the Rings replica
The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship
Mini Helmet - Pig Face Baccinet
Pigface Bascinet Pin Badge
Sting Sword Lamp - The Lord of the Rings
Shop now
15000
Support
Us
Every £1 donated is invested back into the museum, so that you can play your part in caring for the national collection and keeping it free for future generations to enjoy.
Royal Armouries is a charity and relies on your support.
Help us bring history to life
Skip to main content
Genghis Khan: How the Mongols Changed the World
Find Out More About the Genghis Khan Exhibition
Visit Us
Visit Leeds
Royal Armouries Museum
Free
Visit Portsmouth
Fort Nelson
Free
Fascinating Stories
All Stories
8
minute read
Tower of London
Torture and punishment
Life and Death of Fernando Buschmann
4
minute read
Tower of London
Torture and punishment
Identifying an Executioner’s Axe
16
minute read
World War II
The Battles of Imphal and Kohima, 1944
21
minute read
Rome
The World of the Gladiators
5
minute read
Cold War
Firearms
Guarding the Berlin Wall
6
minute read
Rome
Hidden stories
The Gladiatrix
7
minute read
Tudors
Women
Two Queens at the Field of Cloth of Gold
17
minute read
Rome
Spartacus: The Gladiator who Defied an Empire
4
minute read
Popular culture
Firearms
Four Iconic Movie Prop Guns
5
minute read
Hidden stories
Warrior Women
5
minute read
Cold War
Armour
Armour for Astronauts
4
minute read
Popular culture
Firearms
James Bond's Guns
10
minute read
Tower of London
The Man Who Captured the Tower
All Stories
Tower of
London
Explore our history as one of the world’s oldest museums and our links to the Tower of London
Discover your culture and our history
The Collection
Explore the collection
Expand image
Japanese armour of King James VI and I
Japanese armour or domaru, Nambu, Japan, 16th century
The armour was presented to King James VI and I in 1613 as a gift from the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, by Captain Saris of the East India Company.
Collection online
Expand image
Mughal era elephant armour
Elephant armour or bargustavan-i-pil, South Asia 17th to 18th century
This armour was probably made around the 17th century, but it is difficult to say exactly where or for whom. The plate and mail structure was most widely used in northern and central India, particularly in Muslim states. However, the peacock, lotus bloom and fish motifs embossed on the larger panels may indicate it was made or used in an area which maintained at least some frameworks of Hindu belief and reference.
Collection online
Expand image
Armour for a boy
Armour for a boy, probably Henry Prince of Wales, Netherlands, about 1607
The armour is decorated with the story of the campaigns of Alexander the Great, and was presented as a gift in 1608 to the eldest son of James I, Prince Henry, who died in 1612 at the age of 18.
Collection online
Expand image
Harquebusier armour by Richard Holden
Armour of King James II by Richard Holden, London, England 1686
This harquebusier armour by the London armourer Richard Holden was made for King James II of England and VII of Scotland in 1686 following the 'Monmouth Rebellion'.
Collection online
Expand image
Emperor Charles V by Peter Paul Rubens
Portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V by Peter Paul Rubens, Belgium 1603-5
The portrait was probably painted in about 1603-5 during Rubens's first visit to the Spanish Court of King Phillip II, son of Charles and his successor to the Spanish throne.
Collection online
Expand image
Textile helmet and armour
Helmet and Cuirass (Peti)
Body armour (peti) comprising a helmet and cuirass, associated with the royal arsenal of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam. South Asia (Mysore), late 18th century.
Collection Online
Expand image
Decorated burgonet helmet for parade
Burgonet, Augsburg, Germany, about 1600
The helmet's delicate decoration of embossed designs featuring bunches of fruit and flowers, interspersed with birds and insects and fire-gilded copper panels in the form of a variety of Classical figures and trophies of arms, made it unsuitable to be worn on the battlefield. Instead it was designed for parades and other ceremonial occasions where its beauty proclaimed the power, wealth and culture of the wearer.
Collection online
Expand image
Helmet for a medieval knight
The "Lyle" bascinet
Late 14th century bascinet with 'houndskull' visor and aventail. The helmet comes from the armoury of Churburg at Schluderns in the Italian Tirol (called Castel Coira in Italian), which contains the most important medieval armoury still in private hands, and is rich in examples of early plate armour.
Collection online
Expand image
Golden winged lion
Winged gilded lion of St Mark
Set in traditional pose with right paw resting on an open book of the Gospel, pages inscribed 'PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEVS' ('Peace be with thee O Mark my evangelist') Its eyes are raised heavenwards, and its head is surrounded by an iron halo.
Collection online
Expand image
M-41A pulse rifle
"Aliens" movie prop
M-41A Pulse Rifle made for the film 'Aliens' (1986) and refurbished for the sequel 'Alien 3' (1992), Britain, 1986.
Collection online
Expand image
Colt Navy Model 1861
Presentation pair
A presentation pair of Colt model 1861 Navy revolvers in a fitted brass bound mahogany case lined with red velvet. The back strap bears the inscription: "To Mark Firth Esq. from President Colt's PFM Co".
Collection online
Expand image
Sporting gun
Flintlock Muzzle-Loading Sporting Gun by James Low About 1620
Probably made for Charles I, as Prince of Wales.
Collection online
Expand image
Axe head
Axe Head (Tabar) dated 1650 with chiselled inscription
On either side of the blade is a chiselled cratouche containing and inscription in Arabic.
Collection online
Expand image
Dagger axe
Dagger Axe (GE) and Scabbard
An axe head of bronze with a lacquered wooden scabbard painted with swirling, smoke-like depictions of running animals, birds, and men armed with spears. From the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC).
Collection online
Explore the collection
Meet the Gladiators
In 2004, one of the largest and best preserved Roman gladiator cemeteries was discovered in the city of York — the final resting place of over 80 skeletons of mostly young men who had lived hard and violent lives. Two decades later, the Royal Armouries asks York Archaeological Trust to reveal the mystery of who they were.
Watch video
Shopping
Shop now
Royal Armouries Museum Souvenir Guide – Leeds
Royal Armouries Armoured Elephant Stuffed Toy
Fort Nelson Guidebook
Islamic Arms and Armour
Gimli’s axe replica - official Lord of the Rings replica
The Medieval Art of Swordsmanship
Mini Helmet - Pig Face Baccinet
Pigface Bascinet Pin Badge
Sting Sword Lamp - The Lord of the Rings
Shop now
15000
Support
Us
Every £1 donated is invested back into the museum, so that you can play your part in caring for the national collection and keeping it free for future generations to enjoy.
Royal Armouries is a charity and relies on your support.
Help us bring history to life